After Jesus gives the invitation to come and find in Him that which will quench the thirst of the inner man, He promised to all who come that they will experience rivers running through them; “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). These very words convey a sense of abundance that no other source can provide. The key point I want to make here is that the same refreshment we find in a close, inner relationship with Christ is to be the very source that God will use through us to minister to others.

Please think with me through this principle. You cannot give to others what you have not received yourself. How often I have met someone who was empty and dry from the experiences of life, but I was of no help to them because I had not received from the Savior life-giving water and food. On the other hand, as my fellowship with the Lord grows and I am filled with His Spirit, the water of refreshment I have received is now available to others. Your life in Christ will abundantly refresh others if you get plugged into a strong relationship with Jesus and become refreshed by Him.

This same principle is taught by Paul. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Notice the same principle is applied here. We cannot comfort others with God’s comfort unless we have received that comfort from the “God of all comfort”.​There are many similar examples in Scripture that point to the same principle. The question you and I must answer is; am I receiving on a continual basis, refreshment through my relationship with the Lord, which I can give to others? If not, my efforts to help others will be fruitless and empty.